All kidding aside, I cannot get this end-of-the-world talk out of my mind. I have not said anything publically about it for a reason: I have felt a little embarrassed. I have friends and family who do not believe as I do in regards to Jesus and his return. I can understand someone saying, “Is THIS the kind of nonsense you believe?” Well…no…wait…yes, but I want to explain.
Let me provide an example first. Let’s say you were walking along the street and spotted a $50! How exciting. You head off to Walmart and purchase that new combination fishing pole & bottle opener. When the clerk checks the $50, she announces, “Sir…this is phony. I can’t accept it.” You blunder out an apology and explain that you found it and leave the store. How embarrassing! Out of frustration, you head to your bank, withdraw all your cash, and toss it in the trash…right? No. Just because you found one bad bill does not mean that all bills are bad. Frankly, sometimes we get it wrong in the church. It does not mean everything is wrong or even that a particular teacher is always wrong.
Fortunately for the church, we have Jesus on whom to fall back. He did not make mistakes. Really. Look it up. Find one. So, while one of his followers may say or do something bad, stupid, or crazy, it does not automatically mean Jesus is disqualified. We fail, but Jesus does not. This is not an excuse but a reality. I, and all who follow Jesus, am in process. Even the Apostle Paul said he was in process in becoming more and more like Jesus (check out Phil. 3). As much as it pains me, I wish my failures and mistakes did not reflect on Jesus. I can admit them and strive to do better with his help.
So, what does Jesus say about his return? By his own words, he said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matt. 24:36). The angels don’t know. Jesus does not even know the day he returns. If we break down the expression “no one knows” in the original Greek text, it means, “NO ONE KNOWS!” I find it presumptuous to make claims on the day when Jesus did not know it himself.
Do I believe he is coming back? Absolutely! Read the last chapter in the Bible. Do I know when? No, but it could be today, next week, next summer, or a thousand years from now. I do wonder and hold the opinion that it may be sooner than later. But, I don’t know for sure. The question we need to answer is, “Will we be ready?” Do you know him? Will his return be joyful or horrible for you? If you know him, you look forward to that day. Please…listen to him even if we, his followers, sometimes open our mouths a little too much.
